IDENTIFYING reasons behind a rise in graffiti plastered across the Tomaree Peninsula will be one focus of a police operation set up to address the issue.
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Port Stephens Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector George Radmore said officers involved with the operation would look to understand what, if any, social or cultural issues were spurring the rate at which graffiti was occurring in Nelson Bay and surrounding suburbs.
"The main outcome we want to achieve is reducing the incidence of graffiti in Nelson Bay and identifying persons involved," Inspector Radmore said.
"But one of the other things we want to achieve is identifying why there has been a rise, looking at what social things may be playing a factor, youth issues or cultural things."
The operation was formed following the most recent Port Stephens Community Consultative Committee meeting.
The "significant increase" in graffiti on the Tomaree Peninsula was raised at the meeting, prompting police to take action.
Already the operation has netted two offenders.
Inspector Radmore said the arrests of two teenage boys, a 14-year-old from Nelson Bay and a 15-year-old from Shoal Bay, were a "good piece of work from the community".
On July 17 the teenagers were allegedly spray painting a wall at a school in Salamander Bay when they were scared off by a member of the public.
They left a backpack behind, returning later to retrieve it.
Another member of the public took a photograph of them when they returned and alerted police who were able to identify the teenagers.
Both boys were issued a field court attendance notice and will appear in Raymond Terrace Children's Court for malicious damage in August.